Dear FoundHer...

Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. Practical advice for your small business. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HEREIn this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares actionable Q4 marketing strategies for small business owners. She emphasizes the importance of gratitude marketing, creating holiday gift guides, running flash sales, repurposing content, and leveraging email for conversions. Lindsay also discusses the significance of pitching for year-end press opportunities, sharing behind-the-scenes content, encouraging user-generated content, and planning for January momentum. The episode is packed with practical tips to help businesses finish the year strong and set the stage for the new year.Follow Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram.Interested in leveling up your marketing? Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business.Join the Dear FoundHer... Forum Networking Community

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HEREIn this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk shares her journey of building Bump Club and Beyond from scratch without a marketing budget. She emphasizes the importance of creating a marketing system out of necessity, which eventually became the foundation for her success. Lindsay introduces her marketing framework, SWEEP, which stands for Social media, Website, Email, Events, and Publicity/Partnerships. She discusses the significance of each component and provides actionable steps for entrepreneurs to implement in their businesses. The episode highlights the power of consistency, community building, and the importance of nurturing relationships through effective marketing strategies.00:00 Building a Business from Scratch02:53 The Importance of a Marketing System06:06 Introducing the Sweep Framework08:56 Social Media: Building Awareness11:50 The Role of Your Website14:59 Harnessing the Power of Email Marketing18:07 Events as Community Builders20:56 Publicity and Partnerships for Growth23:51 The Power of Consistency in Marketing27:11 Action Steps for Immediate ImpactCheck out today’s female founded brands:Jessica’s Natural Granola:  Use the code LINDSAYP15, first time customers save 15%. Seed Health Daily Synbiotic: Use the code FOUNDHER for 25% off your first month at seed.com. Can be used on DS-01®, PDS-08®, VS-01™. No expiration dateZodiac Medallion Necklace by Melinda MariaTween Girls Summit in Chicago on October 18th: FOR MORE INFORMATION

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HEREFrom Starbucks tables to Taylor Swift’s spotlight to Nordstrom shelves, Melinda Maria Spigel has built a jewelry empire on vision, grit, and fearless self-advocacy. Joining Lindsay Pinchuk in this episode, Melinda shares how she turned handmade pieces into a multimillion-dollar brand by trusting her instincts, funding growth in unconventional ways, and pushing past rejection until doors opened. Melinda reflects on the viral moment Taylor Swift wore her “Julian Loves Diamonds” necklace during the Eras Tour, why persistence mattered more than luck when Nordstrom finally took a chance on her, and how a relentless belief in her product carried her through every stage of growth. Her story leaves entrepreneurs with three powerful reminders: keep betting on yourself even when no one else does, treat rejection as a doorway instead of a wall, and understand your numbers as deeply as you understand your craft.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Believing in Yourself and Your Business05:07 Early Passion for Jewelry08:07 Selling Jewelry at Starbucks10:09 Winning Game Shows for Seed Money16:37 Self-Advocating and Building Connections27:08 Persistence Pays Off with Nordstrom39:32 Melinda’s Actionable Advice for EntrepreneursConnect with Melinda Maria Spigel:Follow Melinda Maria on InstagramRegister for our FREE Sweep Workshop: The No Fluff Marketing Framework for Small Business Owners. Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business. Check out today’s female founded brandsJessica’s Natural Granola PvolveTaja CollectionEVEREVE Camp Jacket Parke Official Follow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HEREAra Katz never set out to build a probiotic company, yet a deeply personal turning point led her back to her passion for science and ultimately to the creation of Seed. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Ara about how her path through film, tech, and entrepreneurship came full circle when she discovered the potential of the microbiome and its deep connection to gut health, immunity, skin, and overall wellness.Ara shares how Seed developed its science-first approach to gut health, why customer experience is inseparable from scientific credibility, and how design and storytelling can make complex research feel human. She also reflects on the hardest part of scaling a values-driven company: holding fast to what must remain sacred while still making the compromises that growth demands.Ara leaves behind advice that feels both wise and lived: resist the urge to follow someone else’s recipe, ground your work in love, and hire operational support early so you can stay focused on the work that matters most to you.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Meet Ara Katz and the Story Behind Seed06:39 A Miscarriage That Changed Everything12:03 Understanding the Microbiome and Gut Health20:03 The Science and Innovation Behind DS0129:20 Why Customer Experience Builds Trust34:18 Challenges of Scaling with Integrity45:01 Actionable Advice for Female FoundersUse FOUNDHER for 25% off your first month at seed.com. Can be used on DS-01®, PDS-08®, VS-01™. No expiration dateConnect with Ara Katz:Follow Ara Katz on InstagramFollow Seed on InstagramRegister for our FREE Sweep Workshop: The No Fluff Marketing Framework for Small Business OwnersGet on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small BusinessCheck out today’s female founded brands:Hope Firsel Nourish & Gather Suzanne Scheer, J.D., CLTC®, Register for her webinar Ripley Rader Black Ponte Knit Wide Leg PantDara Astmann Coaching AI Her Way Follow Dear FoundHer on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HEREAI can feel overwhelming when you’re running a small business, yet it also offers a chance to simplify work and open new possibilities. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk is joined by Dr. Nici Sweaney, the founder of AI Her Way, to talk about how entrepreneurs can bring AI into their businesses in a way that feels intentional and aligned with their values. Nici shares the turning point that led her from academia to building a seven-figure company around AI and why she believes women need to engage with it now to stay competitive. She explains how to think of AI as a “blank slate intern” that can be trained to support your goals, why ethical use matters, and how keeping human values at the center ensures these tools work for you rather than the other way around.This conversation invites listeners to see AI not as a shortcut, but as a responsibility and an opportunity to shape the future of work in ways that are inclusive and sustainable. It also asks us to consider both the immediate benefits and the bigger picture: AI is here to stay, and the way we choose to use it now will influence the kind of businesses, communities, and opportunities we create in the years ahead.Episode Breakdown:00:00 AI for Small Business Success with Dr. Nici Sweaney,01:57 From Academia to AI Entrepreneurship06:55 What AI Her Way Offers to Businesses08:52 Understanding AI vs Generative AI13:19 Training AI Like a Blank Slate Intern18:24 Practical Ways Entrepreneurs Can Use AI22:43 Why Claude Is Dr. Sweeney’s Favorite AI Tool26:06 Best Practices for Using AI Confidently30:25 What Ethical AI Really Means35:12 Inside the AI for Impact Hub38:15 Building a Seven-Figure Business with AI41:35 Three Essential Tips for New Founders44:49 Use AI EthicallyConnect with Dr. Nici Sweaney:Access a free 14-day trial of Dr. Nici Sweeney’s Gen AI Essentials course: https://pages.aiherway.com.au/14-day-gen-ai-dear-foundherDr. Nici’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ai_herway/Get on the waitlist for Marketing Made Simple for Small Business: https://lindsaypinchuk.myflodesk.com/waitlistFollow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundherPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE.In this episode, host Lindsay Pinchuk emphasizes the critical role of community in business, sharing personal experiences and insights on how a strong community can provide support, resilience, and connection. She discusses the importance of authenticity and standing up for one's values, especially in the face of adversity. Lindsay also offers practical steps for building a community that fosters trust and collaboration, ultimately highlighting that community is an essential asset for any entrepreneur.Female Founded Businesses We Love mentioned in this episode: ThirdLove Organic Cotton Cloud T-Shirt BraDo Be Fit LLCChicago Northshore Momsperfectwhitetee Ziggy SweatshirtResources + Links:SWEEP: How One Framework Helped Me Launch a Top 1% PodcastSubscribe to our weekly newsletter on Substack: The FoundHer FilesWant support, strategy, and a powerful network? Join the Dear FoundHer… ForumHave a question about growing without a budget or landing partnerships? DM Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share Dear FoundHer... with another woman business owner who needs to hear this. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a no-fluff, all-strategy conversation.

Subscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.Heidi Zak took a bra that didn’t fit and turned that frustration into ThirdLove, a DTC brand that challenged an industry dominated by one player and proved that listening to women could transform everything about how a product is made, marketed, and sold.For Dear FoundHer’s 300th episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Heidi about the decisions and risks that shaped ThirdLove’s growth, from introducing half-cup sizes that the industry said were impossible, to launching the “Try Before You Buy” program that asked women to truly live in the product before deciding if it was right for them. Heidi shares how customer feedback revealed insights far deeper than price or style preferences, and how those insights shaped both the brand’s identity and its ability to earn trust online. She shares about the missteps, the manufacturing roadblocks, and the moments where abandoning an idea saved time and money.Lindsay and Heidi’s conversation is about building in direct response to the people you serve, scaling in a competitive DTC space without losing sight of product quality, and staying committed to innovation even when the path forward is messy and uncertain.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introducing Heidi Zak06:19 Heidi Zak’s Founding Story of ThirdLove14:01 Launching the First Product Line and Market Strategy19:35 Creating Half-Cup Sizes and Disrupting the Bra Industry24:08 Building Trust and Driving Customer Acquisition32:01 How Customer Feedback Shaped ThirdLove’s Growth36:17 Lessons Learned from Failed Experiments38:56 ThirdLove’s Current Status and Future PlansConnect with Heidi Zak:Follow ThirdLove on InstagramFollow Heidi Zak on InstagramSubscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.Join our online networking community, the Dear FoundHer... ForumFollow Dear FoundHer on InstagramDon’t forget to follow Lindsay on InstagramPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Get actionable strategies for your business delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe to The FoundHer Files. No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works...because we're better together. SUBSCRIBE HERE.In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk reflects on the journey of her podcast, Dear FoundHer..., as it approaches its 300th episode. She shares the evolution of the podcast into a supportive community for women entrepreneurs over 40, highlighting key lessons learned from her interviews with inspiring female founders. Lindsay emphasizes the importance of trusting one's intuition, staying true to one's mission, and the power of community in building successful businesses. She also offers personal reflections on her growth and the impact of the community on her life.Female Founded Businesses We Love mentioned in this episode: Odele Beauty: You can check out Founder, Lindsay Holden on the podcast, and make sure you show them some love.Shop Chunky:  Check them out and show her some love.Adulting 101 Masterclass: Show her some love here.Rebecca Minkoff Frankie Mini Woven Tote: You can check out our conversation on the podcast here. Don’t forget to show her some love.The Write Stop: Show her some love here.Resources + Links:SWEEP: How One Framework Helped Me Launch a Top 1% PodcastSubscribe to our weekly newsletter on Substack: The FoundHer FilesWant support, strategy, and a powerful network? Join the Dear FoundHer… ForumHave a question about growing without a budget or landing partnerships? DM Lindsay @dearfoundher on Instagram.If you enjoyed this episode:Please rate, review, and share Dear FoundHer... with another woman business owner who needs to hear this. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a no-fluff, all-strategy conversation.

Subscribe to The FoundHer Files for weekly no-fluff business tips for women 40+ building on their own terms. Erica Groussman went from zero sales and deep debt to getting TRUBAR into Whole Foods, Target, and thousands of stores across North America, all by staying committed to a vision she wasn’t willing to give up on.In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Erica about how a simple desire for a clean, delicious protein bar led to one of the fastest-growing plant-based snack brands on the shelf. Erica shares what those early days really looked like, driving around with samples in the backseat, asking salons and yoga studios to take a chance on her product, and putting marketing expenses on her personal credit card. She also opens up about the moment everything nearly fell apart after bringing in a partner who mismanaged the business, and what it took to take back control and keep going.Where do you draw the line between persistence and letting go? How do you rebuild when trust is broken and the money has run out? Erica talks through those moments with honesty, alongside the decisions that helped her move forward, building supplier relationships, testing in-store demos, and staying close to the product every step of the way. Her story is a grounded look at what it really takes to grow something from nothing and keep it alive through the hard parts.Episode Breakdown:00:00 Introduction04:15 How TRUBAR Got Started08:44 Recovering from Financial Failure11:08 Breaking Into Whole Foods14:51 TRUBAR’s Retail Expansion19:05 From Three People to a National Team20:40 Scrappy Marketing and Product Trial24:18 Getting Acquired by a Public Company27:31 The Long-Term Vision for TRUBAR33:43 Advice for Aspiring FoundersConnect with Erica Groussman:http://www.instagram.com/ericatrubarhttp://www.instagram.com/trubar.brandsSubscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together.Join our online networking community, the Dear FoundHer... Forum:https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forumFollow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundherDon't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchukPodcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm